Summer Solstice

"Festival of Achievement"20th-23rd June in the Northern Hemisphere20th-23rd December in the Southern Hemisphere

Summer Solstice is a doorwayto the second half of the year...

This is summer's height, midsummer, the longest day and the shortest night of the earth's solar year. Here we celebrate the completion of the cycle that began at the winter solstice. In the midst of the longest day of the year, we simultaneously begin our return to the dark half of the year. Solstice means "standing of the sun" and we can connect to this great turning point in the earth's yearly cycle by taking a moment to stop, be still and look back at our own unique journey since the winter solstice. From now to the winter solstice everything in earth will be withdrawing within. we can use this time to focus on what we wish to nurture and develop in ourselves during the coming months. The summer solstice is a doorway into the second half of the year, energizing the paths that lead within. Stand on the threshold and ask yourself what you wish to encourage in your life?

Revelation 12:1

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.Sun Blessing... Read more....

Summer Solstice Meditation Questions

Use the Seasonal Meditation questions to look back over the first half of the year and consider what have you achieved, which seeds have failed to germinate, and how would you do things differently to ensure success in future? Reflect on what you wish to incubate over the coming months. Celebrate your outer journey and prepare to transfer your energy inwards over the coming months leading up to the winter solstice. What lights your fire? What gets your creative juices going? Find out more...

Radiate!

The sun is a star at the centre of the solar system, All the planets revolve around it. At the Summer Solstice the sun is reaching the height of its powers, before the energy shifts and the days begin to shorten gradually again.When you are practising expansive poses such as Trikonasana, Ardha Chandrasana, or Virabhadrasana fire up your poses by imagining a radiant sun at your centre. Re-charge and energise your system by picturing this sun brighten and expand as you inhale. As you exhale imagine warm rays of sunlight radiating throughout your body. Also as you practice Surya Namaskar, the Sun Salute, keep in your mind's eye an image of the sun. Feel that warm glow!Mircea Elliade in his book "Yoga: Immortality and Freedom" said: "A considerable proportion of Indian mystical physiology is based upon the identification of “suns” and “moons” in the human body.”

Is the Sun a God or a Goddess?

According to Tantric scriptures, the sun was nothing more than a garment of light for the Great Goddess. The popular European tradition usually made the sun male and the moon female, chiefly to assert that "his" light was stronger, and that "she" shone only by reflected glory, symbol of the position of women in patriarchal society. However, Oriental and pre-Christian systems frequently made the sun a goddess.

The Solar System as a Mandala

In astrology the Sun symbol is a dot within a circle. The astrologer Margaret Hone says "Its symbol is that of eternity, and of the power of sprit, of primal motion from whence all else issued and was created". The sun sign may have shown the sun at high noon on high in the middle of heavens dome. According to the oldest symbolism, the circle enclosing a dot represented the primal womb, containing the spark of creation. Like the bindu within the Yoni Yantra of Hindu tradition.At the time of the Summer Solstice use the sun symbol as a bhavana, or focus, during an entire yoga practice. Throughout the practice keep bringing an image of the sun symbol in to your mind's eye. Observe what effect this has on your practice. You might also like to try creating a solar mandala.

The Alchemy of Fire

"I celebrate the living energy of Fire to generate energy, expansion and growth. It is the active power of response and release. Fire gets things moving and is a catalyst for change and transformation. Fire is associated with will power and conscious choice. Fire inspires me to take risks, to act on the strength of my convictions and to tap into my courage and inner strength. It lies in the spark of inspiration, the spark of the imagination, the inner spark of my love and passion and my desire for happiness. These are generated from within me and inspire my actions in the world. As an alchemist, I seek Secret Fire, Hidden Fire or Sacred Fire, the Fire that lives within me and helps me to be in touch with what is truly important for my spiritual journey. I aim to unite my inner Fire with my outer Fire, so that every thing I do in my everyday life, and in the world, is a reflection of this union. By uniting the two I create a doorway, an interface where my inner and outer Fire can fuse together. Their union releases spontaneity and trust in myself, a clarity of inner strength and true integrity. I picture the opening this united Fire energy brings and jump right in. A new part of my journey has begun."From: "The Alchemist's Journey" by Glennie Kindred

Use Fire to cleanse and purify and to burn away obstacles so that you can move forwards. Take time to explore passion, creativity, and growth as related to the Fire element. Light candles or bonfires for what you desire in the season of growth.

Try a wave-like Sun Salute

Try a Sun Yoga Practice...

Stay Grounded and Centred

The energy at the Summer Solstice is yang, expansive, and outward looking. During this busy period of rampant growth it is important to stay centred and grounded. At the start of your yoga practice stand in Tadasana, mountain pose, close your eyes and each time you exhale drop your awareness down, from your head, to your hara, your belly, your centre. Do this for a few breaths. Then try this: each time you inhale imagine that you are drawing prana, chi, vital energy up from deep down in the earth, up through the soles of your feet and your legs, to your hara. Each time you exhale imagine that you are storing this energy in your hara. As you do your yoga practice keep bringing your awareness back to your centre. This will help to induce a sense of calmness and spaciousness that you can carry with you in to your everyday life.

Tadasana Mountain Pose

Compassionate Walking...

May you and I be safe,May you and I be happy,May you and I be healthy,May you and I live with ease.Safe, happy, healthy, ease.

The summer is a great time to take your spiritual practice on the road...Try a Compassionate Walking MeditationFind out more

Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty

Patanjali 3:26From perfect discipline of the sun, one has knowledge of the worlds.